A Week in Food, Photos, and Words

The perfect way to start off any weekend morning - sunshine and a cup of tea.

Cheese, cheese, and more cheese. A delectable dairy lunch courtesy of my father's extensive cheese selection!

A glass of wine and a good book (The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball) makes for a perfect quiet Saturday night at home. 

I finally got around to making my own crackers. These Olive Oil Crackers (recipe courtesy of 101 Cookbooks) were impossibly easy to make - and they're healthy too! The only ingredients I used were 100% whole wheat flour (the recipe calls for semolina flour of which I had none), water, salt, and olive oil. Nothing more, nothing less (although I did add some dried rosemary and thyme to a few batches for some extra special flavor). 

Mike and I finally made it to Dangerously Delicious, Baltimore's very own beloved pie shop. We had already committed to sourcing our wedding pies (in lieu of a wedding cake) from Dangerously Delicious, banking on the smashing reviews we'd heard from all around. We headed down to the city on Saturday to taste for ourselves. We shared a slice of the Baltimore Bomb, a pie filled with chopped up Berger cookies, a local specialty shortbread cookie loaded with chocolate ganache icing. It was unlike any other pie I'd had before - the filling's texture was a cross between a custard and a bread pudding, punctuated by chocolate bits all throughout.

Because we have zero will-power and were craving sweets again on Sunday, Mike offered to make the drive into the city for some more pie. This time we scored a BBQ Pulled Pork Pie (absolutely delicious! there was a hint of pickle relish in there that made the whole thing to-die-for) and a Mixed Berry Pie. Anyone in the Baltimore area (or in DC - they now have a Washington location too!) who has yet to visit Dangerously Delicious needs to head over there asap for some seriously good eating!

I did a lot more shopping this week than I'm normally prone to. But, last weekend, Mike and I went to a nearby thrift store and I found a beautiful secondhand couch in perfect condition for a mere $250. It was cozy, comfy, and the perfect replacement for our unbearable old futon that finally had to go. I went back Monday morning, just two days after I first came upon my dream sofa, with every intention of making the purchase and the sofa was nowhere to be seen. Much as I hate to admit it, I was absolutely crushed. 

And from that little experience I learned that sometimes I need to be impulsive and not allow myself the time required for thinking things over when my gut says go. So I did just that. I rushed to Craigslist, found a great looking sofa on the first ad I viewed, and made the call. It was pretty serendipitous that the first listing I came across offered us not only the most ideal and beautiful but also the most affordable couch listed! And by the end of Monday night Mike and I were thoroughly exhausted but extremely pleased to have a new couch in our living room at less than $250! (It came with a cavernous armchair, which I gave to my sister, for a total price of $250 so I value the sofa at around $200). It's the perfect addition to our now friendly and inviting living room!

I also bought a vermicomposter! It really isn't a very pretty sight and it's stuck in our ugly basement so I won't bore you with photos. But the worms are on their way and I hope to be composting by the end of the week!

I also finally made it out to DeBois Textiles, a great vintage/thrift store in the Baltimore area. My stylish friend Sarah accompanied me on Saturday morning and we each scored some great finds. The vintage stuff was a bit pricey for my low budget, but the thrift shop was awesome. Not a single item in there was priced about $5.00 and some of the merchandise included leather jackets, winter coats, and fancy-shmancy sweaters, blouses, and the like. For Baltimoreans looking for a great shopping hot spot, I highly recommend running by DeBois. You're bound to leave with at least a few prize finds.